Control Global

Embedded intelligence in field instruments isn't new, but more and better knowledge is getting captured in more sophisticated, easier-to-use and better-networked devices.

Maybe it's all those crystal-clear highballs and free-flowing beverages that make level measurement seem conceptually simple to uninformed observers. However, when they sober up and peer into pitch-black tanks and silos with internal structures,…

Q: I came across your “Ask the experts” column at www.controlglobal.com, and I'd like to ask a question I’ve had for quite a while regarding the control of fuel gas to a fired heater.
This particular unit is a natural-draft heater used in a…

Embedded intelligence in field instruments isn't new, but more and better knowledge is getting captured in more sophisticated, easier-to-use and better-networked devices.

Maybe it's all those crystal-clear highballs and free-flowing beverages that make level measurement seem conceptually simple to uninformed observers. However, when they sober up and peer into pitch-black tanks and silos with internal structures,…

Q: I came across your “Ask the experts” column at www.controlglobal.com, and I'd like to ask a question I’ve had for quite a while regarding the control of fuel gas to a fired heater.
This particular unit is a natural-draft heater used in a…

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new ebook from the editors of Control.

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new ebook from the editors of Control.
Topics covered include:
Taming temperature and pressure
Secrets to good vessel temperature and pH control
Living on the edge with surge…

Control's Monthly Resource Guide brings you the latest online resources on a variety of process control topics.

MULTI-PART WEIGHING
This four-section webpage by Omega Engineering covers "Weighing Applications," "Weighing System Design," "Installation and Calibration" and "Specialized Installations." The whole group is located at…

To keep up with demand for its temperature and analyzer products, Endress+Hauser opened two new manufacturing facilities on May 31, including a more than $8-million, 42,000-square-foot temperature measurement plant at its North American headquarters…

Often, a human wants to fix something, but without understanding cause-and-effect mechanisms or statistical vagaries in a signal, the human tweaking to improve just increases variation

Often, a human wants to fix something, but without understanding cause-and-effect mechanisms or statistical vagaries in a signal, the human tweaking to improve just increases variation. “Tampering” is the term W. Edwards Deming applied to what…

Since its invention, the DCS and its development have focused on increasing power and reducing cost. “Forty years of R&D in control systems has gone into the platform, not the function, but the value lies in the function,” said Peter Martin,…

The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill was spending too much time and money supporting an existing control system. That’s unacceptable for UNC Chapel Hill, which has nearly $1 billion in annual research expenditures, and ranks…

Operation and maintenance organizations shouldn’t assume that they can merely connect our “things” from the last century and reap the benefits.

Following a brief “swoop-down” to quickly remedy some process equipment issues, a plant experienced erratic behavior of a critical valve—critical because it provided surge control for a large compressor. No one was comfortable proceeding with…

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new eBook from the editors of Control.

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new eBook from the editors of Control.
Topics covered include:
Pressure rising for open, secure systems
Exploring the love/hate relationship with distributed control
Making…

Our readers tell us who they think delivers the best technology in our industry

There's knowledge in our readers. That's why every year we ask our loyal audience to help us determine which automation service providers offer the best products and brands they can rely on to get the best combination of performance, ease of use,…

Basic motor overview
The five-page paper, "AC-powered motors in automation: general purpose, inverter/vector duty and stepper motors," provides a good overview of the main motor types used in many control and automation applications.
Read it here.

There are a lot of misconceptions in the application of automation systems in the process industries. Sometimes these errors in thinking don’t cause much harm because good design practices keep the user out of trouble, but they keep us from the…

Tips and tricks to get valuable information out where it can so some good.

John Rezabek recently discussed how to make more effective use of the infrastructure we likely already have installed, and in particular the investment in positioners (“Can things of yore deliver gold?”). Here are some suggestions on how easy it…

Basic motor overview
The five-page paper, "AC-powered motors in automation: general purpose, inverter/vector duty and stepper motors," provides a good overview of the main motor types used in many control and automation applications.
Read it here.

The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill was spending too much time and money supporting an existing control system. That’s unacceptable for UNC Chapel Hill, which has nearly $1 billion in annual research expenditures, and ranks…

Bonnie Ramey, DuPont senior process control engineer and HMI expert, explores how these standards are critical for improving the performance of operators, enabling them to better do the tasks needed for abnormal conditions, operational states and production objectives.

Greg: The operator is on a moment-to-moment to basis, making sure the process is safe, reliable and productive. It appears to me that the operator interface developed for the original distributed control systems in the 1970s did not improve much for…

Our process plants are not exempt from the forces of chaos, so when the caller ID indicates the plant, we might worry that it brings news of an unexpected trip or an injury to an employee or contractor.

A few years ago, my insurance man asked me, “You’re an engineer, aren’t you?” I was indeed, I said, and he went on to explain that I was eligible for a rate reduction, I just needed to fax him documentation of the degree I’d earned decades…

Our readers tell us who they think delivers the best technology in our industry

There's knowledge in our readers. That's why every year we ask our loyal audience to help us determine which automation service providers offer the best products and brands they can rely on to get the best combination of performance, ease of use,…

Tips and tricks to get valuable information out where it can so some good.

John Rezabek recently discussed how to make more effective use of the infrastructure we likely already have installed, and in particular the investment in positioners (“Can things of yore deliver gold?”). Here are some suggestions on how easy it…

A few worthy, proven technical innovations are making their way into IS solutions and settings.

Some things never change, which means they just change more slowly than we usually notice. One of these tortoises is intrinsic safety (IS) in the process industries, and most control engineers and other folks I know are grateful for its…

Operation and maintenance organizations shouldn’t assume that they can merely connect our “things” from the last century and reap the benefits.

Following a brief “swoop-down” to quickly remedy some process equipment issues, a plant experienced erratic behavior of a critical valve—critical because it provided surge control for a large compressor. No one was comfortable proceeding with…

Material choices affect the design and reliability of wireless connections.

There is obviously more to an enclosure than “just a box with a door” to mount common equipment inside. Unfortunately, like power supplies that we discussed earlier this year, enclosures are often an overlooked element of the engineering design…

In response to Control's questions about field-to-cloud networking for the "Alternate Paths" cover story in the June 2017 issue, two experts provided some thorough and comprehensive responses.

In response to Control's questions about field-to-cloud networking for the "Alternate Paths" cover story in the June 2017 issue, two experts from Red Lion Controls provided some thorough and comprehensive responses. They are Colin Geis, product…

Moving automation engineering off the critical project path starts with accommodating even late changes in instrumentation requirements. Learn more in this new ebook.

Moving automation engineering off the critical project path starts with accommodating even late changes in instrumentation requirements. Learn more in this new ebook.
Topics covered include:
Maximize I/O flexibility
ExxonMobil’s patented…

Be just 33 seconds more productive each hour, and the savings mount quickly.

Rockwell Automation previewed its new, forward-looking App Platform for mobility at this week’s TechED conference in Orlando. While focused first on redefining smartphone use on the plant floor – with the aim of making individual workers more…

As a chemical engineer by training, one aspect of automation that I had to pick up post-graduation was a basic understanding of electrical engineering. Although it wasn't a natural fit for me (my alma mater makes Chem Es take an electrical…

'Every time I read about the convergence of IT and OT, I wonder, are we converging, or does management think it’s all the same because we all use computers and networks?'

In a pivotal scene in the now-ancient, nerd-classic movie Star Wars, self-serving and detached smuggler and fugitive Han Solo makes a U-turn and flies to the aid of idealistic and young Luke Skywalker and his noble quest. Fans are delighted by his…

Tips and tricks to get valuable information out where it can so some good.

John Rezabek recently discussed how to make more effective use of the infrastructure we likely already have installed, and in particular the investment in positioners (“Can things of yore deliver gold?”). Here are some suggestions on how easy it…

Few and surmountable obstacles lie between us and command-perform-verify.

ISA released the ISA-106 “Procedure Automation for Continuous Process Operations” initial Technical Report (TR) defining models and terminology in August 2013, and several manufacturers have implemented their interpretation of this document…

A project’s success often depends more on human dynamics than on good engineering.

Greg: The human aspect of our job is often neglected. One of our newest protégés in the ISA Mentor Program, Luis Navas, is a process control leader at Monsanto. He recently posed a question to me and Hunter Vegas (the cofounder of the Mentor…

Why and how to secure industrial control and safety systems at every conduit.

Cybersecurity is all the rage now with everyone wondering if someone is peeking under their petticoats or will hack their control system and take over their process, a la Stuxnet, leading to a disaster. This is an important issue that requires a…

Company staged a Technology Conference on Aug. 8 that educated several dozen attendees on the latest developments in infrastructure, building automation and cybersecurity.

To help its users, developers and colleagues get a handle on today's fast-digitalizing technologies, Phoenix Contact staged a Technology Conference on Aug. 8 that educated several dozen attendees on the latest developments in infrastructure,…

Recognize aggressive media and know how to specify materials of construction.

Greg: Here we enjoy some war stories on material selection by Hunter Vegas, senior project manager at Wunderlich-Malec Engineering in Greensboro, N.C., a cofounder and key resource of the ISA Mentor Program revitalized by the Nov. 16, 2015, Control…

Our latest guide to web-hosted papers, tutorials, videos and other educational materials shows you how to think outside the box

More than a box
Recent developments described in our "2017 State of Technology Report: Work Stations and Enclosures" include better and more efficient ways to control temperature and humidity, choosing among the leading protection methods for…

September 14, 2009 - Adding yet further capabilities to the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture and PlantPAx Process Automation System, Endress+Hauser is launching the Promass 83 Coriolis Mass Flow Meter with EtherNet/IP connectivity. Rockwell Automation complements this hardware development with the software tools for RSLogix 5000 and FactoryTalk View integration as part of a PlantPAx sys-tem. Some of the benefits jointly delivered include reduced network count, simpler installation, seamless integration and reduced programming time.

The new EtherNet/IP-enabled Promass 83 will be available in January 2010 and is designed to offer process system designers greater freedom and choice in their selec-tion of components and architectures. EtherNet/IP is a leading Industrial Ethernet variant, and so the addition of an EtherNet/IP capability makes the Promass 83 even more attractive to machine and skid builders operating in the hybrid proc-ess/discrete control industries.

Dion Bouwer, Product Manager - Platforms at Endress+Hauser, explains: "We see that a number of our joint customers with Rockwell Automation are increasing their usage of EtherNet/IP in automated systems and so it was no surprise when several of them approached us last year asking for Ethernet and EtherNet/IP capabilities to be built into the device."

"For the end user, the primary advantage will be simplicity and speed of integra-tion," Bouwer continues. "Some protocols require additional remote I/O devices and a separate fieldbus protocol to handle communications; with this new device variant, these are now unnecessary. From the speed perspective, even our own re-search and development team was astounded by how quickly it integrated into the Rockwell Automation Logix platform. It was literally a case of a few mouse clicks, as opposed to the 15-20 minutes it would take to configure over another network."

Dr. Jürgen Weinhofer, Director, Integrated Architecture, EMEA Region at Rockwell Automation, explains the user benefits from Rockwell Automation's perspective: "The EtherNet/IP interface gives users direct access to device data without addi-tional configuration or programming. By using a standard, unmodified protocol, this data can then be shared seamlessly and very easily across the entire network. It can then be viewed either on line-side HMIs or, via existing Ethernet networks, on computers in offices and control rooms - even remotely over the Internet.

"Our RSLogix 5000 programming environment treats the Promass 83 in the same way as any of our I/O modules, intelligent sensors or actuators," Weinhofer elabo-rates. "By using the Add-On Profile that we have added to our extensive library, the module can be simply added to the I/O configuration of the project. This creates pre-defined tags meaning it takes literally seconds to integrate. A FactoryTalk View global object is also available. This is a graphical element which can be used for SCADA HMIs or networked computers - the result being that the device can be easily integrated into both the programming and visualization environments."

A typical application for the Promass 83 would see it in a blending skid, allowing the incoming flow of a number of raw ingredients to be tightly controlled, helping to maintain the quality of the finished product. As well as measuring mass flow and density, the unit can also be used to measure viscosity. In-line viscosity meters are often very expensive meaning that many viscosity readings are done in a lab, rather than in the line. With this device, users can measure viscosity, on-line in real time and adjust control parameters accordingly - rather than waiting for lab results. The device is also capable of measuring gasses.

Joerg Herwig, Director Marketing at Endress+Hauser Flowtec, concludes: "This product-development program is a graphic example of how Endress+Hauser works with one of its strategic partners to address market needs. Both companies realized the demand for this capability and by working together we have created a device which has a tremendous potential to be a 'game changer' as one customer put it."

BACKGROUND

Logix platform: As part of the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture, Logix platforms provide a single control architecture for discrete, drives, motion and proc-ess control systems. Whether you need a high-performance control system or a small, value-based control system, Logix platforms provide the right control system for your applications. Along with NetLinx open networks, Kinetix integrated motion and visualization products, Logix platforms provide the maximum in control inte-gration, program re-use, communication flexibility and overall ease-of-use so you'll spend less on setup, operation and maintenance. The Programmable Automation Controller family includes: CompactLogix System, ControlLogix System, SoftLogix5800 Controller and DriveLogix System.

RSLogix 5000 software: With RSLogix 5000 programming software, users need only one software package for discrete, process, batch, motion, safety and drive-based applications. RSLogix 5000 software offers an easy-to-use, IEC61131-3 com-pliant interface, symbolic programming with structures and arrays and a compre-hensive instruction set that serves many types of applications. It provides ladder logic, structured text, function block diagram and sequential function chart editors for program development as well as support for the S88 equipment phase state model for batch and machine control applications.

The Rockwell Automation PlantPAx Process Automation System repre-sents the culmination of significant investments in automation technology for the process industry. This system leverages the company's core process automation ca-pabilities and technologies with those of market leading partners, such as OSIsoft and Endress+Hauser, and acquisitions including Incuity, Pavilion Technologies, ICS Triplex, Xi'An Hengsheng and ProsCon, to provide customers a scalable, open and cost-effective process solution.

Based on the Rockwell Automation Integrated ArchitectureTM, the PlantPAx system delivers a unified process, discrete and information solution with key areas of focus including systems engineering, batch and sequencing, asset management and field device integration, critical control and process safety.

Endress+Hauser Promass 83: Coriolis flow meters have the ability to measure several process variables all at the same time. This opens up completely new per-spectives in process control, quality assurance and plant protection. Mass flow, den-sity and temperature, the primary measured variables, can be used to derive other values such as volume flow, solids content, viscosity or concentrations and complex density functions.

The uniform Proline transmitter concept includes:

Modular device and operating concept resulting in a higher degree of efficiency

Software options for viscosity and concentration measurement for extended range of application

Diagnostic ability and data back-up for increased process quality

Promass sensors are tried and tested in over 100,000 applications and offer:

Multivariable flow measurement in compact design

Insensitivity to vibrations thanks to balanced measuring system

Efficient protection against forces from piping thanks to robust construction

Easy installation without taking inlet and outlet runs into account

EtherNet/IP: EtherNet/IPTM extends commercial off-the-shelf Ethernet to the Common Industrial Protocol (CIPTM) - the same upper-layer protocol and object model utilized in DeviceNetTM, and ControlNetTM. CIP allows EtherNet/IP, Con-trolNet, and DeviceNet product developers, system integrators, and users to apply the same objects and profiles for plug-and-play interoperability among devices from multiple vendors and in multiple sub-nets. Combined, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and EtherNet/IP promote transparency from sensors to the enterprise software.

The Endress+Hauser Group

Endress+Hauser is a global leader in measurement instrumentation, services and solutions for industrial process engineering. With over 8,000 employees worldwide, the Group generates annual net sales of more than $1.4 billion.

Structure

Company-owned sales centers and a network of partners guarantee competent worldwide support. Production centers in eleven countries meet customers' needs and requirements quickly and effectively. As a successful family-owned business, Endress+Hauser is set for continued independence and self-reliance in the future.

Products

Endress+Hauser provides sensors, instruments, systems and services for level, flow, pressure and temperature measurement as well as liquid analysis and data acquisition. The company supports customers with solutions and services in automation engineering, logistics and information technology. Our products set standards in quality and technology.

Founded in 1953 by Georg H Endress and Ludwig Hauser, Endress+Hauser has developed from being a specialist in level measurement to a provider of complete solutions for industrial measuring technology and automation, with expansion into new territories and markets.

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